Chinese companies are moving to Mexico to sell things to the US without paying extra fees. They build factories in northern Mexico to be closer to the US. This helps them save money on shipping and avoid US trade rules. More and more Chinese companies are doing this. They are investing a lot of money in Mexico.

Mexico is a good place for Chinese companies because it is close to the US. US companies are also building factories in Mexico instead of Asia. Some people think Mexico should be careful about getting involved in US-China problems. They say Mexico needs a plan to protect itself. But many in Mexico think this is a good chance to grow their economy.

Original news source: How Chinese firms are using Mexico as a backdoor to the US (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write key vocabulary words from the article on small pieces of paper and put them in a hat. One student from each team comes up to the front and picks a word from the hat without looking. They must then act out the word without speaking, and their team must guess what word they are acting out. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Play multiple rounds, with different students acting out words each time.

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Each pair will take turns summarizing the article in their own words to their partner. Encourage them to use the key vocabulary words from the article. After each summary, have the pairs switch roles and summarize again. This activity helps students practice speaking and listening skills, as well as comprehension of the article.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write key vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into small groups. One student from each group comes up to the board and chooses a word without telling their group. They must then draw a picture to represent the word, while their group tries to guess what word they are drawing. The group that guesses correctly gets a point. Play multiple rounds, with different students drawing each time.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Write key vocabulary words from the article on small pieces of paper and put them in a hat. Divide the class into pairs. One student from each pair picks a word from the hat and has to think of as many synonyms for that word as possible in one minute. The other student keeps track of the synonyms. After one minute, they switch roles and do the same with a different word. The pair with the most synonyms wins.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Have each student write down two true statements and one false statement about the article. They should try to make the false statement as convincing as possible. Go around the class and have each student share their three statements. The rest of the class must guess which statement is the lie. This activity helps students practice speaking and listening skills, as well as critical thinking about the article.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why are Chinese companies moving to Mexico?
2. Why is Mexico a good place for Chinese companies?
3. What are Chinese companies trying to avoid by moving to Mexico?
4. What are US companies doing in Mexico instead of Asia?
5. What do some people think Mexico should do to protect itself?
6. What do many people in Mexico think about the Chinese companies moving there?
7. Why do Chinese companies want to be closer to the US?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Chinese companies are moving to (1)______ to sell things to the US without (2)______ extra fees. They build factories in northern Mexico to be closer to the US. This helps them save money on shipping and avoid US (3)______ rules. More and more Chinese companies are doing this. They are (4)______ a lot of money in Mexico.

Mexico is a good place for Chinese companies because it is close to the US. US companies are also (5)______ factories in Mexico instead of Asia. Some people (6)______ Mexico should be careful about getting involved in US-China (7)______. They say Mexico needs a plan to protect itself. But (8)______ in Mexico think this is a good chance to grow their economy.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What are Chinese companies doing in Mexico?
2. How does building factories in northern Mexico help Chinese companies save money?
3. Why do Chinese companies want to avoid US trade rules?
4. Why are more and more Chinese companies investing in Mexico?
5. Why is Mexico a good place for Chinese companies?
6. How are US companies different from Chinese companies in Mexico?
7. What do some people think Mexico should do about getting involved in US-China problems?
8. Why do they think Mexico needs a plan to protect itself?
9. What do many people in Mexico think about Chinese companies coming to their country?
10. Why do they think it is a good chance to grow their economy?
11. Do you think it is a good idea for Chinese companies to move to Mexico? Why or why not?
12. How would you feel if a Chinese company built a factory near your home?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. factories
2. shipping
3. investing
4. economy
5. involved
6. protect
7. chance
8. closer
9. extra
10. rules

Meanings:
(A) More than what is needed
(B) A time when you can do something good
(C) Sending things from one place to another
(D) Being a part of something
(E) Keeping something safe
(F) Not far away
(G) Big buildings where things are made
(H) Things you must follow or obey
(I) The system of money and jobs in a place
(J) Putting money into something to make it better
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are Chinese companies moving to Mexico?
(a) To sell things to China without paying extra fees
(b) To sell things to Europe without paying extra fees
(c) To sell things to the US without paying extra fees
(d) To sell things to Africa without paying extra fees

2. Why do Chinese companies build factories in northern Mexico?
(a) To be closer to China
(b) To be closer to the US
(c) To be closer to Europe
(d) To be closer to Africa

3. How does building factories in Mexico help Chinese companies save money?
(a) They save money on taxes
(b) They save money on labor
(c) They save money on materials
(d) They save money on shipping

4. Why are US companies also building factories in Mexico?
(a) To be closer to the US
(b) To be closer to China
(c) To be closer to Europe
(d) To be closer to Africa

5. What do some people think Mexico should do?
(a) Have a plan to protect China
(b) Have a plan to protect the US
(c) Have a plan to protect itself
(d) Have a plan to protect Europe

6. What do many people in Mexico think about Chinese companies moving to Mexico?
(a) It is a good chance to grow the economy
(b) It is a bad chance to grow the economy
(c) It is a good chance to shrink the economy
(d) It is a bad chance to shrink the economy

7. Why is Mexico a good place for Chinese companies?
(a) It is close to China
(b) It is close to the US
(c) It is close to Europe
(d) It is close to Africa

8. What are Chinese companies doing in Mexico?
(a) Investing a little money
(b) Not investing any money
(c) Investing money in Asia
(d) Investing a lot of money

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Many in Mexico think this is a good chance to grow their economy.
2. US companies are also building factories in Mexico instead of Asia.
3. Chinese companies are going to Mexico to sell things to the US without paying any additional charges.
4. Chinese companies are not investing a lot of money in Mexico.
5. Fewer and fewer Chinese companies are engaging in this.
6. This helps them save money on shipping and avoid US trade rules.
7. Some people think Mexico should be careful about getting involved in US-China problems.
8. They build factories in southern Mexico to be closer to the US.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What are Chinese companies doing in Mexico?
2. Why are Chinese companies building factories in northern Mexico?
3. How does building factories in Mexico help Chinese companies save money?
4. Are more or less Chinese companies moving to Mexico?
5. Why do some people think Mexico should be careful about getting involved in US-China problems?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why are Chinese companies moving to Mexico?
Chinese companies are moving to Mexico to sell things to the US without paying extra fees.

2. Why is Mexico a good place for Chinese companies?
Mexico is a good place for Chinese companies because it is close to the US.

3. What are Chinese companies trying to avoid by moving to Mexico?
Chinese companies are trying to avoid US trade rules and save money on shipping.

4. What are US companies doing in Mexico instead of Asia?
US companies are building factories in Mexico instead of Asia.

5. What do some people think Mexico should do to protect itself?
Some people think Mexico should have a plan to protect itself from getting involved in US-China problems.

6. What do many people in Mexico think about the Chinese companies moving there?
Many people in Mexico think it is a good chance to grow their economy.

7. Why do Chinese companies want to be closer to the US?
Chinese companies want to be closer to the US to save money on shipping and avoid US trade rules.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Mexico
(2) paying
(3) trade
(4) investing
(5) building
(6) think
(7) problems
(8) many
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. factories
Answer: (G) Big buildings where things are made

2. shipping
Answer: (C) Sending things from one place to another

3. investing
Answer: (J) Putting money into something to make it better

4. economy
Answer: (I) The system of money and jobs in a place

5. involved
Answer: (D) Being a part of something

6. protect
Answer: (E) Keeping something safe

7. chance
Answer: (B) A time when you can do something good

8. closer
Answer: (F) Not far away

9. extra
Answer: (A) More than what is needed

10. rules
Answer: (H) Things you must follow or obey
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are Chinese companies moving to Mexico?
Answer: (c) To sell things to the US without paying extra fees

2. Why do Chinese companies build factories in northern Mexico?
Answer: (b) To be closer to the US

3. How does building factories in Mexico help Chinese companies save money?
Answer: (d) They save money on shipping

4. Why are US companies also building factories in Mexico?
Answer: (a) To be closer to the US

5. What do some people think Mexico should do?
Answer: (c) Have a plan to protect itself

6. What do many people in Mexico think about Chinese companies moving to Mexico?
Answer: (a) It is a good chance to grow the economy

7. Why is Mexico a good place for Chinese companies?
Answer: (b) It is close to the US

8. What are Chinese companies doing in Mexico?
Answer: (d) Investing a lot of money
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Many in Mexico think this is a good chance to grow their economy. (Answer: True)
2. US companies are also building factories in Mexico instead of Asia. (Answer: True)
3. Chinese companies are going to Mexico to sell things to the US without paying any additional charges. (Answer: False)
4. Chinese companies are not investing a lot of money in Mexico. (Answer: False)
5. Fewer and fewer Chinese companies are engaging in this. (Answer: False)
6. This helps them save money on shipping and avoid US trade rules. (Answer: True)
7. Some people think Mexico should be careful about getting involved in US-China problems. (Answer: True)
8. They build factories in southern Mexico to be closer to the US. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧